History AnimalMotifs / Literature

* ''Literature/MaidenCrown'': Queen Sophie is associated with birds used for falconry, such as goshawks and falcons. Oleg's falconer, who first teaches her to take care of her goshawk when she is a child, tells her that a goshawk is an affectionate bird when treated well, but can be moody and unforgiving when wronged. When she has her future divined by the wizard Heikki, he states while pronouncing her destiny (she will live a long life, and have many children) that a royal heart is like a falcon, and "can only love where it is loved and trust where it is trusted". Valdemar also gives her a pet merlin as a wedding gift.

* Creb has two Animal Motifs, due to having two totems. His second totem, the Cave Bear, represents his persona as one of the most powerful Mog-urs of all the clans, a person inspiring awe and commanding respect. His birth totem is the roe deer, which represents the person he is BeneathTheMask; [[NiceGuy gentle and shy]].

* The two protagonists of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAncientDarkness'' come from the Wolf and Raven clans respectively- two animals that frequently share prey. Given that the first book centers around a hunt, this is quite fitting.
** Every single villain also fits their clan animal to a T. Special mention goes to Tenris, who fits both personality-wise (cute but carnivorous) and ''taxonomically'' (pinnipeds and canids both fit under suborder Caniformia).

* The Neanderthals depicted in Jean Auel's ''[[Literature/EarthsChildren Clan of the Cave Bear]]'' have individual animal "totems"; the heroine, Ayla, has a cave lion, a controversially strong totem for a woman.

* ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses'': Lucien has a fox motif, he wore a fox mask while cursed and other characters often compare his appereance and cunning with that of a fox.

** And [[SixthRangerTraitor David]] is [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves a rat]]. [[ShoutOut For all his rage, he is still just a rat in a]] [[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion bottle]]. David also sometimes uses a lion, which represents his savage fighting style, as even Jake in his tiger morph couldn't defeat him.
** Ax also often goes into battle unmorphed, since Andalites are plenty dangerous in their natural state (''extremely'' sharp tail blades, remember?)

* Literature/TheBible is full of animal analogies. Lions, doves, sheep and cattle are especially prominent: Jesus himself was regularly compared to lambs, lions and, in later Christianity, [[MythicalMotifs unicorns.]]

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/DoesABeeCare": This story makes constant references to animals and their instinct, acting as metaphors for an alien, as well as for the ship. Comparisons such as spiders and architecture, wasps and ornithology, salmon and cartography, not to mention the title question.

** Other characters whose Patronuses are known and notable include Ron Weasley (a Jack Russell terrier, loyal, and tenacious); Hermione Granger (an otter, playful, intelligent, and Creator/JKRowling's [[AuthorAppeal favorite animal]]); and Ginny Weasley (a horse, wild and fierce) all revealed in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]''. In the final book, we also get Patronus reveals for Luna Lovegood (a hare, most likely in reference to phrases like "mad as a March hare", fitting with her status as a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}), Ernie Macmillan (a boar, fitting with his slight tendency towards being a bit "boorish" and "pig-headed") and Seamus Finnigan (a fox, fitting with his devotion to Hogwarts as well as his snarkiness).

** Albus Dumbledore's brother Aberforth has a goat Patronus. This is in keeping with how he once used "[[NoodleIncident inappropriate charms on a goat]]", and his place of business ([[spoiler: the Hog's Head]]) smells of goats.

** Albus Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, has a goat Patronus. This is in keeping with how he once used "[[NoodleIncident inappropriate charms on a goat]]", and his place of business ([[spoiler: the Hog's Head]]) smells of goats.

** The Mantle of the [[OurFairiesAreDifferent Winter Lady]] is represented by an incorporeal serpent, a symbol of the sex and danger it drives its hosts to spread. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Not coincidentally]], [[spoiler:one of its future bearers has a snake tattoo.]]

* In the ''Literature/FairyOak'' series, when the Captain's Band transforms into birds, each member has a code name based in their transformation, which reflects their personality. Their personality and likes also get reflected in the animals they prefer interacting with. Some examples are:
** Vanilla turns into a robin and speaks to porcupines, turtles, ladybugs and other forest animals.
** Lavender talks to foxes, spiders and scorpions.
** Grisam transforms into a grey hawk and talks to crows, because he has the patience to do so.

*** True Berserker, [[spoiler:aka [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Humbaba]]]], has both a lion motif and a spider motif, having the upper body of the former and the lower body of the latter.
* ''[[Literature/TouchingSpiritBear Ghost of Spirit Bear]]'': The homeless man has motifs of the Spirit Bear. The man appears on-and-off and disappears quickly like the Spirit Bear, is quite mysterious and just stares at Cole and Peter.

** Severus Snape is often compared to [[DarkIsNotEvil a bat.]] [[spoiler:His Patronus is a doe, which represents his love for Lily Evans. Notably, his Patronus is a copy of Lily's instead of a complement like James'.]]
** [[AllThereInTheManual On Pottermore]] it was revealed that Remus Lupin has a wolf Patronus, which he is ashamed of because he dislikes the reference to his lycanthropy. Yet, wolves are intelligent and loyal to their packs. [[spoiler:Nymphadora Tonks' Patronus changes from a jack rabbit to a wolf after the events of the fifth book, out of love for Remus.]]

** Other characters whose Patronuses are known and notable include Ron Weasley (a Jack Russell terrier, loyal and tenacious); Hermione Granger (an otter, playful, intelligent, Creator/JKRowling's [[AuthorAppeal favorite animal]]); and Ginny Weasley (a horse, wild and fierce) all revealed in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]''. In the final book, we also get Patronus reveals for Luna Lovegood (a hare, most likely in reference to phrases like "mad as a March hare", fitting with her status as a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}), Ernie Macmillan (a boar, fitting with his slight tendency towards being a bit "boorish" and "pig-headed") and Seamus Finnigan (a fox, fitting with his devotion to Hogwarts as well as his snarkiness).

** Albus Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, has a goat Patronus. This keeping with how he he once used "[[NoodleIncident inappropriate charms on a goat]]" and his place of business ([[spoiler:the Hog's Head]]) smells of goats.

** Each of the four Hogwarts Houses also has a symbolic animal: [[TheHero Gryffindor]] has a lion, the King of the Jungle; {{Hufflepuff|House}} has a badger, a docile animal [[BewareTheNiceOnes that can take down much larger creatures if threatened]];[[note]]Fun fact: in earlier drafts, it was a bear instead.[[/note]] [[TheSmartGuy Ravenclaw]] has an eagle, intelligent and independent; [[AmbitionIsEvil Slytherin]] has a snake, which is sneaky, clever, and loyal to a close few (and, InUniverse, because its founder [[SpeaksFluentAnimal could talk to them]]). [[spoiler:Slytherin's descendant Voldemort inherited his snake motif.]]
* Incredibly important in 'Het verrotte leven van Floortje Bloem', a Dutch book which title translates to 'The screwed-up life of Floortje Bloem'. It's about a young hooker hooked on heroin who gets a fur rabbit from a pedophile. This fur rabbit is used to portray her innocence and it deteriorates further and further from that point.

* In ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' your daemon's form (an animal) represents yourself and is part of your soul. Since children have not yet truly defined who they are in life, their daemons can shape shift until they mature.
* While used throughout most of Creator/JohnIrving works, the motif of the bear is especially prevalent in his novel ''Literature/TheHotelNewHampshire''. On the obvious level, two bears are found in the story: State O'Maine, a trained bear that is the family's first pet, whose presence indirectly caused the birth of the Berry children and whose death also indirectly began the family's habit of buying and running hotels ; and Susie, a woman the Berry family meets in Vienna and that spends her time dressed up and acting as a bear, both as a way to cope with her rape and help her friend and employee. On a less obvious level, the novel is filled with subtle references to bears: for example the protagonist's mother and an old Viennese prostitute both have collections of china bears ; or when John the protagonist gets fat he is compared to a "teddy bear" and a "panda".

** Katniss has been compared to a mockingjay, [[spoiler: and Katniss' role as the Mockingjay is revealing about the nature in which she's been manipulated in the novels; the mockingjays were emblems of freedom and signs of rebellion but could not produce their own words. Katniss is constantly a puppet for the 'players' of the books, like President Snow, Plutarch and Coin. She also is reduced to a poor mental state where she begins singing to herself in the end of the last novel.]]
** Rue is described as having bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and standing tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It's impossible not to think of a bird and Katniss repeatedly compares her to one, highlighting her fondness for Rue and Rue's sweet and free-spirited nature. Her swift and almost invisible movements through the treetops added to the bird-like description. Rue's pre-games interview costume is described as a sheer dress with shimmering gossamer wings. Of course she can also communicate to the birds through song.
** Katniss nicknamed the girl from District 5 "Foxface" because of her fox-like appearance. She has red hair and is describe by Katniss as sly and elusive. Foxface demonstrated her cleverness by figuring out the path into the Careers' supply pyramid and reached the bulk of supplies, takes an unnoticeable amount of food, and then runs back to the safety of the woods.
** Prim's cat Buttercup has a very similar personality to her sister Katniss, and takes the role in Prim's life that Prim takes in Katniss's life.

* The main characters in ''Literature/TheImpairment'' each are associated with an animal of which reflects their personalities.

** [[OnlyFriend The sole believer on campus to Kyle's claims]], Mark Rivera, has a wolf motif, which reflects his aggressive attitude towards anyone that's hostile to anyone to whom he's fiercely protective and loyal. It's a part of a gag with his [[spoiler: deceased]] girlfriend Naomi Portman's motif of the Moon, and also reflection of his [[spoiler: sad and lonesome outlook on life]].

** Allie Parker’s seems to be cats which fit to her curious attitude, the mysterious nature of her personality and of course [[spoiler: in truth to her agile and dangerous skills and techniques and her territorial, independent and dangerous tendencies]].
** Being that he’s a bipedal version and greatly resembles one, Meleeo is identified with Chameleons. This greatly reflects how he blends in to his surroundings and [[spoiler: adapted and fooled both the readers and the characters of his true personality and colors]]. Oh and of course his tongue.

** ''Literature/TheSuitcaseKid'': Andy's stepfather Bill is likened to a baboon; she describes him as large, hairy and with a monkey-like face, and probably a large, red behind.

** Elsa's stepfather Mac is associated with wild pigs; she refers to him at one point as "a big, hairy warthog" and is even sound like a warthog when he snores.

* In ''Literature/LolaRose'', Jayni associates her abusive father Jay with [[ThreateningShark sharks]]. She develops a phobia of sharks after seeing them in the aquarium, which is implied to be due to underlying anxiety and trauma about her father. She sometimes has nightmares about sharks looking for her. At one point, she creates a collage at school about her family and impulsively sticks a picture of the shark on the page beneath the figures representing herself, her mother Nikki and brother Kenny (she'd been discussing fathers with Harpreet at the time); she tries to cover it up with other pictures but still knows the shark is there, symbolizing how Jay is a constant presence even if he can't be seen. [[spoiler:Jayni convinces herself that standing in front of the shark tank for one hour will cure Nikki's cancer, believing that if she can overcome her fear of her father her mother will be spared]].
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Aragorn is associated with eagles. During his time as a captain in Gondor and Rohan, he went by the name Thorongil which means "Eagle of the Star". During the events of Fellowship of the Ring, he is given a brooch that is shaped like an eagle. It also fits Aragorn's status as royalty as eagles are often seen as symbols as such.

* This is more overt with Gordon Reece's short story ''Mice'', as the the titular "mice" are a mother and daughter who are timid, sensitive, and conflict-aversive and are treated with much mistreatment throughout the story, much like actual mice. In that vein, one can liken their abusers to anything that preys on mice.

** ''Blackbirds'': Psychopomps -- beings that transport dead souls to the afterlife. Miriam believes for most of the novel that she's no more than a witness to death, and that she can't control fate.

** ''The Cormorant'': Symbolizes greed, gluttony or overindulgence. The main antagonist is DrunkWithPower, and to save [[spoiler:her mother]]'s life, Miriam must find a way to defeat him.

* The witches of the Pallid Masque from the ''Literature/RevancheCycle'' are given animal names and bone masks to match by the coven's mistress. Said names are sometimes deceptive, as the bandits who waylay [[spoiler:Hedy, the Mouse]] learn the hard way.

** The UsefulNotes/BritishEmpire is associated with lions and leopard, and both animals are used to refer to Britishmen and British warships;

** Her [[Literature/TrickstersDuet daughter]], Aly, is a clever girl who likes to joke around. She learns how to talk to crows early in the plot, befriends the [[CleverCrows crow gods]], and [[spoiler:eventually falls in love with a crow shapeshifted into a man]].
** In the ''Literature/BekaCooper'' books, the proto-police force adopt the disparaging nickname "Dogs", call their watchouses "Kennels", and their trainees "Puppies", as they find the connotations of a loyal hunter/tracker to be highly appropriate. Beka is also nicknamed after a breed of hunting dog for her actions in each book as a TitleDrop.

* These come up a lot in ''Literature/WayOfChoices''. Xu Yourong has the blood (and powers) of the phoenix, Qiu Shan, the dragon and Nanke the peacock. While it's a lot less emphasized, a cicada keeps popping up around the protagonist, Chen Changshang.

* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'', Aragorn is associated with eagles. During his time as a captain in Gondor and Rohan, he went by the name Thorongil which means "Eagle of the Star". During the events of Fellowship of the Ring, he is given a brooch that is shaped like an eagle. It also fits Aragorn's status as royalty as eagles are often seen as symbols as such.

* The ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' all have signature animals they often turn into, particularly in battle. For example, Marco, the SadClown with a creatively ruthless streak, typically transforms into a gorilla, which is big and bulky but still both dangerous and capable of delicate manipulations with opposable thumbs; TheHero, Jake, is a tiger; BloodKnight Rachel is a [[BearsAreBadNews grizzly bear]]; Tobias is a hawk (self-sufficient and needs lots of space); TeamMom Cassie is a wolf.
** And [[SixthRangerTraitor David]] is [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves a rat]]. [[ShoutOut For all his rage, he is still just a rat in a]] [[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion bottle.]] David also sometimes uses a lion, which represents his savage fighting style, as even Jake in his tiger morph couldn't defeat him.

** ''LightNovel/LordElMelloiIICaseFiles'':

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': The motifs actually plays a lot into the story & symbolism.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': The motifs actually plays a lot into the story & symbolism